Looking for new books for kids in grades four to seven to read? Two books of historical-based adventure stories for kids about ancient Egypt plus an activity to go along with it are the best ideas for educational pastimes for kids. They can get some reading in, learn about past cultures, and be entertained all at the same time! I know you and your child will love these books! Keep reading to find out all the bonuses associated with these books and to read words from the author herself.
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The author of these books, Malayna Evans, has an extensive background in ancient Egyptian history so she is an expert. She is the perfect person to write time travel books where characters visit ancient Egypt because she has a Ph.D. in this topic. It is my extreme pleasure to share her fabulous work with you.
Her adventure stories for kids books are popular and totally well-loved, so absolutely amazing:) When kids are stuck at home, bored, or looking for something exciting to do, get them reading!
Jagger Jones and the Mummy’s Ankh
Aria Jones and the Guardian’s Wedja (Jagger Jones)
Some words from the author herself:
I’m also a working mom with two kids who are schooling from home right now, so I know how important—and challenging—it is to keep them busy and happy. As an Egyptologist and kid lit writer, I wanted to do my small bit to help other parents entertain and educate.
People often ask me why I spent so many years of my life studying the ancient past. And honestly, there are a zillion things I adore about ancient Egypt. But I have to say the magical beliefs are at the top of my list. So when I wrote my first middle grade book, Jagger Jones & the Mummy’s Ankh, I incorporated a lot of beliefs and artifacts I thought would interest kids, but also convey information about how ancient Egyptian’s lived, and the impact they had on how we live. Most people don’t think much about it, but we inherited our writing system, our calendar, and much more from the ancient Egyptians. My favorite bits in book one are the moments when my modern South Side Chicago kids interact with ancient objects in the ways they were intended to be used, such as using shabti—small human figurines—to spring to life and care for the dead.
What I didn’t have a lot of in book one, were the things most people associate with ancient Egypt: no pyramids or sphinx or mummy army. I fixed that in book two, Aria Jones & the Guardian’s Wedja, much of which takes place in Giza, near the great pyramids. Of course, pharaohs weren’t the only ones buried near the pyramids. The area is peppered with mastabas that housed the burials and tomb chapels of ancient elites. In book two, Jagger and Aria Jones take shelter in a mastaba … and (spoiler alert) tempt the Excellent Spirit into spying on the bad guys for them. Ancient Egyptians tempted the dead to help them all the time, usually using bread and beer. Turns out, Skittles and juice boxes work too.
This scene inspired me to create an Escape Tomb activity kids could do at home to learn a bit about ancient Egyptian magic and afterlife beliefs … and stay entertained. There’s a cheat sheet for busy parents and more like this on my website for the interested: http://malaynaevans.com
Download Aria’s Escape the Tomb Activity here: http://malaynaevans.com/aria/
YouTube: Watch Trailer
Adventure Stories for Kids with a Printable Learning Activity
The author has created a printable activity to go along with her books. It’s a great at-home activity or classroom resource for teachers and kids. See the images and links below. Images shared via permission from author Malayna Evans.
This is a fun printable adventure kids can do in the safety of their homes. There is also a Teacher/parent resource page for adults to guide and assist kids through the activity and to incite them to learn more. Utilize these resources to help kids get the most from these adventure stories for kids.
Teacher/Parent Information
This book is intended for kids in grades 4-7, age 9+ with a lexile measure of 700. There are other resource links on Malayna’s website too, including visiting school online or in real life.
Our Review Coming Soon!
We are currently reading this book, both my son and myself, so check back soon to read our review!
Update 10/29/2020: My son is now reading the book and it’s so sweet to see his eyes light up with excitement when I ask him how the book is going. He said, “Mom, it’s about time travel and they go to Egypt. And they met someone there.” The words themselves do nothing to reflect the wonder in his eyes and on his face. Reading is just magic and I see the proof in his reactions. More to come as he finishes the book.
Author Bio:
Malayna Evans was raised in the mountains of Utah and spent her childhood climbing, reading Sci-Fi, and finding trouble. She earned her Ph.D. in ancient Egyptian history from the University of Chicago. Evans lives in Oak Park, IL, with her two kids, a rescue dog, and a hedgehog. She’s passionate about coffee, travel and sharing her passion for ancient Egypt. You can learn more about Malayna at http://malaynaevans.com or follow Malayna on Twitter here https://twitter.com/Malayna
Copyright ©2020 Julie Hoag Writer. All Rights Reserved.
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